Magic Johnson named Lakers president of basketball operations

The Los Angeles Lakers front office got a major overhaul on Tuesday when the team hired Magic Johnson to be its president of basketball operations. The club fired GM Mitch Kupchak, and Jim Buss, a part owner, will no longer be vice president of basketball operations.

Johnson played all 13 of his NBA seasons for the Lakers after starring at Michigan State from 1977-1979. He grew up in Lansing, Mich.

Johnson won five NBA titles for the Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and one national championship for the Spartans in 1979. He was three times the league’s MVP (1987, 1989, 1990).

The Lakers are currently 19-39, good for second-to-last place in the NBA’s Western Conference.

“It’s a dream come true to return to the Lakers as President of Basketball Operations working closely with Jeanie Buss and the Buss family,” Johnson said in a press release. “Since 1979, I’ve been a part of the Laker Nation and I’m passionate about this organization. I will do everything I can to build a winning culture on and off the court. We have a great coach in Luke Walton and good young players. We will work tirelessly to return our Los Angeles Lakers to NBA champions.”